Before the Porsche 911 was introduced in the 1960s, the 356 Speedster was Porsche's flagship sports car in the 1950s. But finding one in original condition isn't easy, and if you do it's likely to have an extortionate price tag. Fortunately, there is now an alternative option for fans of the original 356 Speedster.

UK-based Total Headturners is converting Porsche Boxster sports cars into 356 Speedster replicas, combining retro styling with modern technology. YouTube channel JayEmm on Cars recently took one of them for a spin and came away thoroughly impressed. It's called the Autobody 387 Speedster, which is based on a 997-generation Porsche Boxster that's been thoroughly restyled to look like the original 356 Speedster, and the result is stunning.

Unlike the original 356 Speedster, the Autobody 387 Speedster has a folding roof for when the weather turns nasty. Removing some pieces of fiber glass and leather reveals the original Boxster's electrically-operated roof, meaning the Autobody 387 can be driven as a speedster or a retro-style convertible. The heated windshield is also completely bespoke, and modern LED headlights provide improved visibility over the original 356 Speedster.

Happily, JayEmm on Cars reports the Autobody 387 Speedster is "a very well made product" as "all the fiber-glass panels fit very nicely" and the silver paintwork looks stunning. While the exterior has been extensively modified to replicate the 356 Speedster, the interior has been left mostly standard with the exception of a period-correct trim comprising of brown leather and fabric.

The Porsche Boxster's agile handling has been retained, as has the 2.7-liter flat-six engine so the Autobody 387 Speedster delivers an engaging driving experience.

Unsurprisingly, the conversion isn't cheap. Pricing for the conversion starts at £65,000 ($80,691), plus the price of the original donor car. Each order then takes around 12 weeks to build. That's a lot of money, but there has been high demand while all ten examples of the company's previous 356 Speedster based on a 996-generation Porsche Boxster sold out fast. Alternatively, Total Headturners is selling the converted car featured in the video for £69,995 ($86,891).